Rock Creek Bridges

The are two substantial wood plank steel bridges in the photo. They are both rated for up to 5,000 pounds. The one in the foreground is approximately 6x54. The one in the background is a bit shorter. I am thankful for this park since it is hitting about 97 today, but it feels like a cool 80 in these woods along the creek. I've found a little sandy bank next to a pool where I can relax and watch the water spiders and minnows as I compose this. There is a small school on the other side holding (swimming) against the fast water coming from a small rapid -- waiting for the next meal to come down the creek. I was rewarded too sitting here spotting two golf balls half buried over time in the sand bank -- from the VFW golf course a few miles upstream This creek begins several miles beyond the golf course in the Catoctin Mountains. The sand upon which I sit was once solid rock from these ancient mountains. This is part of the Appalachian chain from Georgia to Maine. I read this weekend that every year a stream like this can cut away a truckload in the form of sediment. These mountains were the tallest in the world when formed. Higher than anything today. They erode at about .04 mm/year. Multiply that by 250 million years and there you have it-- maybe a lot faster erosion in these past decades with acid rain -- Now that is Real Change!